Software/Hardware for Collaborative Classroom

["Eric J. Ray" <ejray -at- OKWAY -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>]

     Hi folks,

     Does anyone have any experience with computerized
     collaborative learning labs or teaching environments?
     We are in the middle of developing a multimedia-capable
     collaborative learning classroom for the English
     Department--particularly the Technical Writing program.

     Right now it looks like we will have about 25 486-50
     machines, networked, with 8 MEG, CD-ROM, and 120 MEG
     hard drives. These will have standard software (Word
     for Windows, Pagemaker, Corel Draw, Excel, etc.) and
     probably Daedalus for collaborative writing.

     Additionally we will probably provide up to about four
     high-powered PCs and Macs with Framemaker, Interleaf,
     Freehand, and similiar software (generally one copy of
     each).

     Ideally, this environment will facilitate collaborative
     writing and group work on one hand, and on the other
     hand will allow technical writing students the
     advantage of gaining familiarity with the tools they
     will be expected to use in the "real world."

     We are still in the initial planning stages, so
     everything is negotiable. If you had around $200,000
     for such a project, what would you do? Do you have any
     mistakes you would not make the second time around?
     Anything that the lab absolutely MUST/MUST NOT have?
     How about the instructor's podium and projection/remote
     control capabilities? Anything else?

     Please respond to me directly, unless you think this
     would be of general interest on the list.

     Thanks,
     Eric
     ejray -at- okway -dot- okstate -dot- edu